THUNDERCATS, HO!
WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND BANDAI AMERICA INCORPORATED TEAM UP FOR INSPIRED PRODUCT LINE BASED ON POP CULTURE CLASSIC THUNDERCATS
ThunderCats Roars Back Into the Mainstream with Fresh Toys, New Cartoon Network Episodes
BURBANK and CYPRESS, Calif. – June 3, 2010 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) announced today a powerhouse partnership with Bandai America Incorporated, as the global master toy licensee for the animated series, ThunderCats. Under the new agreement, Bandai and their international affiliates will create and distribute products worldwide that will complement both the classic brand property, as well as Cartoon Network’s fresh take on the animated series, with new television episodes set to air in 2011.
“With their legacy of cultivating fun and fresh play experiences for beloved character properties, Bandai is the ideal master toy license for ThunderCats,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We are thrilled to team up and introduce the ThunderCats property to a new generation of fans.”
“ThunderCats have been a cult pop culture phenomenon for the past 25 years, and Bandai America looks forward to developing modern and engaging toys for these beloved characters,” said Masayuki Matsuo, chairman and chief executive officer, Bandai America Incorporated. “Through the Bandai America and Warner Bros. Consumer Products partnership, die-hard devotees as well as a new generation of fans will be introduced to quality, innovative toys that will create magical playtime experiences capturing the adventurous spirit of the brand.”
An all-new animated series, based on the iconic 1980s action classic, ThunderCats, is currently in production at Warner Bros. Animation. The new ThunderCats, a 21st century reimagining of the series that will air on Cartoon Network, will appeal to viewers who have loved the characters all their lives as well as young newcomers to the franchise. A sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes, the grand origin story of Prince Lion-O’s ascension to the throne – and of those who would thwart his destiny at any cost – takes on epic dimensions in this sharp new telling. As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honor and mortality in every episode.
ThunderCats is executive produced by Sam Register (“Teen Titans,” “Ben 10,” “Batman: The Brave and the Bold”). Michael Jelenic (“Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” “Wonder Woman”) and Ethan Spaulding (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”) are the producers. The series marks a creative collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation and Studio4°C, one of the most vibrant animation studios in Japan.
Debuting in 1985, the ThunderCats roared onto the broadcast air waves and created feline frenzy with their band of cat-like heroes from the planet Thundera. Behind their fearless leader Lion-O, the ThunderCats strove to protect their new home on Third Earth and their headquarters, Cat’s Lair, from the Mutants of Plunn-Darr. The ThunderCats pop culture phenomenon had its paws sunk deeply not only in television, but also toylines, apparel and comic books. Twenty-five years later, through the Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Bandai America collaboration, the beloved brand is poised to make a new audience of kids feel the magic and hear the roar once again.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Bandai America Incorporated
A leader in developing engaging, quality toys that capture children’s imaginative spirit and provide endless “Fun For The Future,” Bandai America Incorporated is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some of the most popular brands in children’s toys and interactive entertainment today. The Bandai America brand family includes Power Rangers®, Ben 10™, Harumika®, Tamagotchi®, Pocoyo™ and Teeny Little Families™ among other boys, girls, pre-school and hobby product lines. Bandai America Incorporated is a subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc., an entity that resulted from the integration of Namco Ltd. and Bandai Co. Ltd. of Japan. Global interests encompass three strategic business units: toys and hobby, amusement facilities and content. The company is headquartered in Cypress, California. Find out more about our expertise in connecting with kids in fun and fresh ways at www.Bandai.com.
In 2005 Bandai merged with the leading amusement group Namco to form Bandai Namco Holdings. Global interests encompass four strategic business units: toys and hobby, amusement facilities, game contents & visual and music content. Find out more about our expertise in connecting with kids in fun and fresh ways at www.Bandai.com.
Bandai logo: ® and © 2010 Bandai. All Rights Reserved.
THUNDERCATS and all related characters and elements are trademarks of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and © of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc and Ted Wolf.
(s10)
Power Rangers elements: © BVS Entertainment, Inc. and BVS International N.V. All Rights Reserved.
Ben 10 Ultimate Alien:: TM and © CARTOON NETWORK. All Rights Reserved.
Harumika: TM and © SUNRISE, Layup. All Rights Reserved.
Tamagotchi: TM & © 2004-2009 Bandai, WiZ. All Rights Reserved.
Pocoyo: TM & © 2005-2010 Zinkia Entertainment S.A. Licensed by Granada Ventures Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Teeny Little Families: © 2010 Vivid Toy Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Licensed by Dixon-Manning.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Rita Cooper
Director, Worldwide Public Relations
818-954-3821
rita.cooper@warnerbros.com
Weber Shandwick for Bandai America Incorporated
Danielle Dusky
310-854-8275
ddusky@webershandwick.com
Looking forward to the figures. Hoping you guys do justice to the characters and release fully poseable larger-scale figures in addition to the 3 3/4″ scale figures.
I’m not a miserable nerd, but hey, I’ve been waiting for this for the past 20 years!
When I saw the news I almost cried… I received the same old thrill when my parents bought me the original Cats Lair back in 1988.
I really hope that the magic will live on in the new series (IMHO, paying tribute to the old soundtrack would heavily contribute to this) and mostly in the new toys. The vintage toys were of exceptional quality for the time and budget and had that special something that no other toyline managed to give, something that I cannot describe. If BANDAI manages to capture that “magic”, a huge thanks would not enough.
Best wishes from London, can’t wait to see them in Hamley’s again…
i couldn’t agree more with the first comment,great news,even fr a 26yr old:)i still look up to the sky waiting for my call.hehe.when i was young my mum said ‘we’re gonna have to throw away the lino,i thought she said,”we’re gonna have to throw away LION-O, my world almost ended..great times,great toys,not only that great cartoons..made me who i am today..
well i guess i am kind of a nerd but I loved the thundercats growing up! I remember saving 20 dollars all summer to buy the thunder tank. I still have it. I have nothing but fond memories of my childhood in part to all my pretend time with my sword of omens, which i also still have. Today i am a father of 2. my oldest, a boy is a huge thundercats fan. We have all the dvds and watch them together on a regular basis. I cannot tell you what it means to me as a father to share something i loved with my son and have him love it too! Please stay true to the spirit of the first series and if so I have no doubt that i will be playing thundercats with my son and my grandson someday! Thanks to everyone who is bringing it back….the two “boys” in this house could not be more excited!
Well after watching so many times all the episodes of the best cartoon ever created, i still get excited just by listening to the intro song. I hope this rebirth of this popular cartoon will stay really close to the first generation of episodes. Also to teach some good old manners, and respect within the cartoon for our children, just like the first one did. Hopefully this could be as good as the old one, and don’t just ruing it. Thanks